NHK- Japan acquires Agatha Christie drama

Japanese public broadcaster NHK is one of a batch of networks to acquire BBC One period drama Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime from distributor All3Media International.

NHK will launch the 6x60mins on its main terrestrial channel and follows agreements with major broadcasters including the ABC in Australia, Sky in New Zealand and BBC Worldwide Channels for pan-Africa. The Agatha Christie whodunit, which stars David Walliams (Little Britain, Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple) and Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife, Fortitude), scored 6.4 million – a 29% share – when it launched on the BBC’s flagship channel this summer.

Hilary Bevan Jones’s Endor Productions and Agatha Christie Productions coproduced the show, with All3Media’s sales arm attached for international distribution.

“We are delighted to announce such a strong cast of major broadcasters for this prestigious new crime drama,” said Stephen Driscoll, senior VP, sales, All3Media International. “As one of the first international broadcasters to air the series after the BBC premiere, NHK will give fans of Agatha Christie in Japan a wonderful new series to delight and enthral. “Japan is Christie heartland in terms of a fan-base for the author and this show will introduce a further generation to her work.”

“We are delighted that we can broadcast this wonderful show in Japan,” said Junko Fukano, senior producer of NHK Japan. “Agatha Christie’s dramas have attracted a strong Japanese following, so we believe it will be hugely popular among Christie fans, and hope that it will bring even more audiences to NHK.”